Tag: Powerpuff Girls

Live-Action ‘Powerpuff Girls’ & Arrowverse ‘Justice U’ Spinoff No Longer in Development

It’s not too surprising, but the CW’s new leadership Nexstar is moving the company away from what made it popular. The broadcaster often created shows on a cheaper budget but also was the home for a wide variety of great classics like Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and many more. It was the last battlefront for traditional writer rooms and talent getting the opportunity to grow through the ranks while streaming made it quite a bit of a harsher environment.

Now, we have the confirmation that Powerpuff, the live-action adaptation of Cartoon Network’s Powerpuff Girls, will no longer be reworked. After a failed pilot, one of its stars, Agents of SHIELD actress Chloe Bennet, did not reprise her role as an older Blossom. So, they tried to rework and start casting someone else in the leading role but nothing came of it for quite some time. Now, it has officially been laid to reset.

The female-led Zorro series is no longer removing forward and they also canceled an Archie Comics spinoff focusing on Jake Chang. The bigger surprise is that the last battlefront for the Arrowverse to continue beyond The Flash’s final episode, John Diggle-focused spinoff Justice U, is also disbanding. An era is truly coming to an end alongside the last remnants of former CW president Mark Pedowitz’s. They might sell these projects to other studios, but it does seem unlikely as of now.

Source: TVLine

May 18, 2023
‘Powerpuff Girls’ Creator Returns to Reboot Series

It’s been a bumpy road for The Powerpuff Girls. In 2016, the franchise received a remake from Cartoon Network that surprised many when they completely replaced the main voice cast outside of Tom Kenny, famous for this time as Spongebob Squarepants, returning. Then, CW has been working on a live-action series that would see the trio as teenagers had many scratching their heads. Well, now it seems they are back again but this time with some more motivating news.

The series’ original creator, Craig McCracken, is returning to work on a new set of reboots for Powerpuff Girls, as well as Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. He’s set to work on the project with Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Cartoon Network Studios President, Sam Register, had the following to say on McCracken‘s return:

The Hanna-Barbera homecoming of Craig was an opportunity we could not pass up. Along with his unparalleled sense of fun and imagination, he’s bringing two of his greatest works in ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ and ‘Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,’ and we are so excited for these characters to be a part of the new legacy taking shape at the studio
Sam Register

While they are moving forward with a second attempt to reboot the popular series, there’s also the highlight that the live-action version of the series is still in some form of development over at CW. Chloe Bennett left the project, as she was originally going to play Blossom, and it’s in a form of limbo as they rework the concept. So, we’ll see which one comes out first.

Source: Variety

July 18, 2022
CW’s Live-Action ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Series Still in Development

CW has recently been busy cleaning house, as they’ve canceled the most TV series they’ve ever had since 2012. As such, it made many wonders if any of their other rumored productions are still being worked on, especially if Warner Bros. is interested in selling the broadcast network. Well, it turns out that the live-action Powerpuff Girls series is still being worked on.

According to TVLine, the series is still in some form of “redevelopment” after the first pilot was passed on and even lost one of its main stars, Chloe Bennet in the process. CW’s CEO Mark Pedowitz has publicly stated that they believe in the cast and writers behind the project, but the pilot just didn’t quite come together as initially hoped.

We’ll likely not hear from the project for some time, as they’ve just missed the cut-off for the 2022/23 scheduling for the CW. But, Powerpuff Girls may enter production on a new pilot by the end of the year. So, once we get a casting for Blossom, who Bennet was originally going to play, we’ll likely know more on the future of the series’ second attempt.

Source: TVLine

May 14, 2022
CW’s CEO Opens Up About Failed ‘Powerpuff’ Pilot

It isn’t an easy process to get a brand new TV series. You have to pitch the concept to the production company, they then sign off on a pilot that would act as a proof of concept. It doesn’t get an early series announcement until that is signed off and commonly, the back nine episodes only are given if the show manages to garner an audience. Not every show gets a second chance, but CW’s live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls got just that. Also, in an uncommon move, CW’s CEO, Mark Pedowitz, gave some insight on the move to rework the pilot.

The reason we do pilots is sometimes things miss, this was just a miss. We believe in the cast completely, we believe in Diablo and Heather, the writers… in this case, the pilot didn’t.

It is uncertain what was the cause for this decision, but he did confirm that it was too “campy” and felt out of place. It doesn’t help that there was a leaked script that may have hinted at the direction the original version of the pilot took. The series has a strong cast with the main trio being portrayed Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perreault. They will portray the once superheroic sisters that are in their twenties and disillusioned with the world. Their resentment for having wasted their childhood fighting monsters left them bitter in a world filled with modern technology. Sadly, we might never see the original pilot, but Pedowitz confirmed that they want to stay true to what made the original so popular and we will certainly see this live-action series at some point.

Source: Deadline

May 25, 2021
Official Look at the CW’s ‘Powerpuff’ Girls New Outfits and First Character Details Revealed

We’ve just recently got a glimpse at the upcoming CW live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls. In a recent set video, we saw the trio of Chloe Bennett, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault filming the pilot. They were wearing costumes that seemed heavily inspired by the original Cartoon Network show. Well, it looks like CW wanted to tease their new outfits as the girls grow up in the newly titled Powerpuff series. The newly released image confirms that the girls will not be running around in their cartoon dresses, but they will be adapting their clothing style to fit their new lifestyle as they left their superheroics behind.

They also include some first descriptions of how these incarnations of the crime-fighting trio are going to be betrayed in their late 20s. Bennett‘s Blossom is facing her anxiety and trying to become a leader again on her own terms after a life of being a superhero and a Little-Miss-Perfect. Cameron‘s Bubbles seems to have changed the least and still retain her bubbly personality. However, she now has an obsession with recapturing her fame as an adult. In contrast, Perrault‘s Buttercup has been trying to live her own life away from any attention. An uncertain event will force the three to reunite and embrace their destiny once again after trying to leave it all behind.

Source: Variety

April 12, 2021
CW’s ‘Powerpuff’ Adds Robyn Lively and Tom Kenny

CW continues its work on the live-action adaptation of Craig McCracken‘s iconic superhero trio from Townsville. Now retitled Powerpuff, the upcoming series will follow Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup in their 20s. The Cartoon Network adaptation will see Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perreault take center stage as the series’ heroines. We’ll also get introduced to Mojo Jojo Jr. He will be played by Nicholas Podany. It looks like they are continuing to round out the cast, as Robyn Lively will join the production as Sara Bellum. She was played by Jennifer Martin in the cartoon. It’ll be interesting to see if they will continue the running gag that her face is off-camera in the show, but now that the girls are adults, it will be a bit trickier to pull it off.

There is also one character making a grand return from the original series, s Tom Kenny will reprise his role as the Narrator from the 1998 and 2016 versions. We don’t know if he will continue to voice the intro to every episode. There is a chance it is simply a node to the cartoon in the pilot. We know that the three will wear costumes close to that from the original. So, it could be that the first episode plays with the conventions of the original before pulling us into am ore adult version of these character’s life.

Source: Deadline

April 9, 2021
First Set Photos of CW’s ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Reveal the Iconic Outfits

Well, it didn’t take long for our first look at the live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls to find its way online. The production has just begun on CW’s now-titled Powerpuff series that will explore the teenage life of the iconic sisters. Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet, and Yana Perrault are taking on the roles of the iconic characters. The first images offer a closer look at the trio in some easily recognizable outfits for long-time fans of the Cartoon Network series. IT is surprisingly very faithful to the original series with its simple design. TMZ even includes a video of them flying off with Donald Faison‘s Professor Utonium in the background. It seems they are in front o the iconic house from the original series, which seems to have been faithfully replicated for this series.

Luckily, the outfits from the original Cartoon Network series are quite simple in design. It is just strange seeing adults wear them. They still managed to translate them well into live-action and it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll change their look once they embrace the teen angst part of the story. The way it is shot, t almost seems like this is early in the pilot episode when they confront Utonium about spending most of their childhood fighting monsters and villains. It is surprising to see the older version of these characters wear these outfits, as it seemed more like something they would jokingly tease in the background. Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how this design will look in the show and how it’ll tie together with the confirmed appearance of Mojo Jojo’s son.

Source: TMZ

April 7, 2021
‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Nicholas Podany as Mojo Jojo’s Son

Here’s an interesting surprise. We’ve all been wondering how the upcoming live-action adaptation of the Powerpuff Girls would tackle some of its more colorful villains. CW doesn’t have a massive budget. So, it would be expensive to bring characters like Mojo Jojo, HIM, and many others. Well, it looks like one classic villain is going to return unexpectedly. The Wrap has unveiled that Nicholas Podany will play Joseph Mondel Jr., the son of Mojo Jojo. He will play a “nerdy, power-hungry, insecure Jojo Jr.”, who is obsessed with the three superhero girls. He ends up struggling to balance his father’s rage and his kindness.

Interestingly, they are adding a son character for the iconic villain. They might be exploring the dynamic between a parent and their children, which would allow Mojo Jojo’s story to parallel Plutoniums. Technically, the villainous monkey was there when the superhero trio was born. So, they might play around with that aspect as well in the angsty adaptation of a children’s cartoon.

Now, the big question also remains if we will see Mojo Jojo appear in the series. The casting of his son may point to something tragic happening to him. Yet, The Wrap doesn’t state that he has faced any tragedy. At this point, anything is possible with the show’s direction. Hopefully, we might find out if other classic villains are joining the pilot, which will kickstart the now-titled Powerpuff series.

Source: The Wrap

April 1, 2021
CW ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Adds Donald Faison as Professor Utonium and a New Title

The CW’s Powerpuff Girls pilot has been busy finding its cast. Just recently, we got our first look at its main trio. Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault will play the sisters in their 20s, who are disenfranchised growing up as superheroines. Of course, part of that blame goes to their “father” Professor Utonium, who has yet to be cast. Luckily, Variety has unveiled that Donald Faison will tackle the iconic role in the upcoming pilot. The series based on the Cartoon Network series by Craig McCracken will also be renamed to just Powerpuff.

Faison‘s interpretation of the character is described as “quirky, debonair, and a pinch narcissistic.” It looks like he’ll be facing his midlife crisis throughout the series, as he tries to make up for the past and get back together with his now-adult daughters. The description matches the series general approach by making these characters more adult yet stays true to their animated counterparts. Donald Faison has built-up quite the comedic career with his time on Scrubs alongside Zach Braff. They also have a podcast named Fake Doctors Real Friends inspired by their time on set.

It’ll be interesting to see his quirky sense of humor coupled with the darker themes teased by the series’ description. He may be in contrast to his daughters’ now-adult look at the world. His hope to reconnect with them might become a sticking point, as he tries to play on their time as children while not accepting they grew up. Even if a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls is still a curious choice, the show’s casting has been very impressive so far.

Source: Variety

March 30, 2021
Dove Cameron, Chloe Bennet, and Yana Perrault are The CW’s ‘POWERPUFF GIRLS’

The lead cast of The CW’s planned Powerpuff Girls series has been revealed. The Hollywood Reporter dropped the news this morning that Chloe Bennet, Dove Cameron, and Yana Perrault will portray the titular team of superheroes, who originated as animated characters on the fan-favorite Cartoon Network show. News came last month that The CW would be moving ahead with a live-action sequel series, which is set to revolve around the trio of women as disillusioned twentysomethings who resent losing their childhood to crime fighting. Written by Heather Regnier and Diablo Cody, and produced by CW veteran Greg Berlanti, the project will explore how the protagonists react when a new threat means the world needs them now more than ever. The pilot will be directed by Maggie Kiley, who has spent a lot of time working on shows of a similar manner, such as Katy Keene and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Bennet, well-known to Marvel fans as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Daisy Johnson (perhaps better known as Quake), will take the role of Blossom. The character was the group’s former spunky leader, who holds numerous degrees from her days as a conscientious perfect child. In the series, she will find herself dealing with repressed trauma that’s turned her into an anxious recluse, and attempt to become a leader once more. Cameron, who quickly rose to fame as the star of Disney projects like Liv & Maddie and Descendants, will play Bubbles. She’s America’s toughest sweetheart who has maintained her sparkling disposition in the days since childhood. Bubbles is initially more interested in recapturing her fame than saving the world, but one could expect that to change as the series progresses. Finally, Perrault has signed on to portray Buttercup. The actress’ resume differs from her co-stars, having spent most of her time in stage productions like Jagged Little Pill. Her version of the character, who was once the rebellious member of the group, will be shown as a secretly sensitive person trying to live life anonymously, separating herself from her days as a Powerpuff Girl.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

March 9, 2021